Former South African Deputy President Jacob Zuma revealed today that he believed taking a shower would reduce the risk of infection after unprotected sex with an HIV-infected woman, provoking dismay in one of the countries hardest hit by Aids.
Activists fear Mr Zuma's court testimony will set a disastrous example and undermine years of prevention campaigns against a virus that has infected up to six million South Africans - the highest number anywhere in the world.
Mr Zuma, who is accused of raping the 31-year-old family friend at his home, repeatedly said this week that the sex was consensual and initiated by the woman, and that he did not use a condom because he believed the risk of contracting the disease was minimal for a man.
Under cross examination, Mr Zuma said that he took a shower after intercourse with the Aids activist because "it was one of the things that would minimise contact with the disease."
Many were shocked at the comments from a person who as former head of the National Aids Council was meant to spearhead government campaigns against the virus that kills up to 1,000 people every day in the country.
"He is sending a very wrong impression to the youth, that if you engage in unprotected sex the transmission risks are minimal," said Nokhwezi Hoboyi, a spokeswoman for the Treatment Action Campaign.
"It's the same sort of myth that you get with teenage pregnancy, that if you wash you might not get pregnant," said Annabel Kanabus, director of the British-based Aids charity AVERT, which runs prevention programmes in South Africa.
"Grassroots prevention efforts will be terribly, terribly harmed by this. It will indirectly result in a lot of people dying because they will follow his example", she said.
Although statistically the risk of infection is lower for a man than a woman, experts say there are many other variables, including the degree of progression of the virus.